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Better Than Bouillon: Why It Beats Crumbling Cubes

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Susan Gast, Author and Food Preservation Enthusiast
Susan has been dehydrating and preserving foods for over a decade, sharing practical, tested methods that help readers make healthy, long-lasting meals at home.

No more battling with crumbly bouillon cubes! Better Than Bouillon is my go-to kitchen staple for adding quick, rich flavor to soups, casseroles, rice, mashed potatoes, and everyday meals.

✅ Quick Answer: What is Better Than Bouillon and why use it?
Better Than Bouillon is a concentrated food base. Dissolve one teaspoon in 8 ounces of hot or boiling water to make one cup of broth, or add it while cooking. Refrigerate after opening and use it by the Best By date printed on the lid.

With so many flavors—including organic and reduced-sodium options—it’s no wonder these little jars have a permanent place in my fridge.

Assortment of Better Than Bouillon jars including chicken, vegetable, beef, clam, and ham bases on a kitchen counter.

My Favorite Better Than Bouillon Flavors

These are the flavors I reach for most often:

  • CHICKEN base – Perfect for chicken soup, casseroles, rice, and sauces.
  • VEGETABLE base – My favorite for vegetable soup and meat-free dishes.
  • ONION base – Adds rich onion flavor without peeling or chopping.
  • HAM base – Delicious in bean dishes, split pea soup, and hearty vegetable soups.
  • BEEF base – Ideal for beef stew, gravy, and casseroles.
  • MUSHROOM base – Adds deep, savory flavor to soups, sauces, and gravies.

Because these bases are concentrated and salty, start with a small amount and taste before adding more. Better Than Bouillon offers plenty of other flavors, too, so there’s a base for almost every kind of meal.

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Better Than Bouillon vs. Cubes and Boxed Broth

One teaspoon of Better Than Bouillon dissolved in 8 ounces of hot or boiling water makes one cup of broth. Unlike a premeasured cube, the paste is easy to spoon from the jar, so you can adjust the amount to suit your recipe and taste.

Boxed broth is ready to pour, but it takes up more pantry space and may leave you with unused broth after opening. Better Than Bouillon lets you prepare one cup—or several cups—whenever you need them.

I use the chicken base in my chicken noodle soup recipe and the beef base in my beef stew recipe. Delicious, quick, and foolproof.

Where to Buy Better Than Bouillon (Amazon, Costco & More)

🛒 Quick Tip: Compare the cost per ounce when choosing between regular jars and larger containers. Buy the larger size only in flavors you use regularly, and refrigerate every jar after opening.

Here’s how I shop:

Better Than Bouillon Reduced Sodium Chicken, Vegetable, Beef Stock

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases—this does not affect the price you pay. Read full disclosure.

  • Costco – A good place to look for larger 21-ounce jars if you use Better Than Bouillon frequently. Available flavors and sizes may vary by location.
  • Local grocery store – Best when you need one jar or a particular flavor quickly. Check the soup, broth, or bouillon aisle. I make vegetable soup and chicken soup regularly, so those are the flavors I’m most likely to buy in larger containers. Less frequently used flavors, such as clam or ham, make more sense for me in regular-sized jars.

How Long Does Better Than Bouillon Really Last?

Better Than Bouillon has a shelf life of two years from the date it was manufactured. Check the Best By date printed on top of the lid, and do not use the product after that date.

Once you open a jar, keep it tightly closed in the refrigerator. If an opened jar was left unrefrigerated—or has passed its Best By date—the manufacturer recommends discarding it.

Do not freeze Better Than Bouillon. Although freezing spoonfuls may sound convenient, the company specifically advises against freezing its bases.

For current flavors, ingredients, dietary options, and storage guidance, visit the official Better Than Bouillon website.

Easy Ways to Use Better Than Bouillon

Better Than Bouillon can add rich flavor to far more than soup. Try it in these easy ways:

  • Prepare flavorful broth for soups, stews, and casseroles.
  • Cook rice, couscous, or other grains in prepared broth instead of plain water.
  • Rehydrate dried vegetables in broth so they absorb flavor as they soften.
  • Add a small amount to gravies and sauces while they cook.
  • Stir a little into mashed potatoes for extra savory flavor.
  • Prepare chicken broth as a warm drink—my dad enjoys sipping it on its own.

Because Better Than Bouillon is concentrated and salty, taste your food before adding more.

Using Better Than Bouillon With Dehydrated Food

Better Than Bouillon is a moist paste that requires refrigeration after opening. Do not mix the paste into dehydrated ingredients that you intend to store at room temperature. Instead, add it when you cook or rehydrate the meal.

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Your Top Questions About Better Than Bouillon, Answered

Do you refrigerate Better Than Bouillon after opening?

Yes. Refrigerate the jar after opening and keep the lid tightly closed. Use it before the Best By date printed on the lid. Discard an opened jar that was not refrigerated.

How much Better Than Bouillon do I use to make one cup of broth?

Dissolve one teaspoon of Better Than Bouillon in 8 ounces of hot or boiling water to make one cup of broth.

How is Better Than Bouillon different from bouillon cubes?

Better Than Bouillon is a spoonable concentrated paste, while bouillon cubes come in fixed portions. The paste makes it easier to measure only what you need and adjust the flavor to suit your recipe.

Can I freeze Better Than Bouillon?

No. Better Than Bouillon specifically advises customers not to freeze its bases. Keep an opened jar in the refrigerator and use it before the printed Best By date.

Is Better Than Bouillon high in sodium?

Many varieties contain a substantial amount of sodium because the product is highly concentrated. Check the nutrition label for the particular flavor you are using. Reduced-sodium varieties are available, but reduced sodium does not necessarily mean low sodium.

Can I use Better Than Bouillon in dehydrated food recipes?

Yes, but add it only when cooking or rehydrating the meal. Because Better Than Bouillon is a moist paste that requires refrigeration after opening, do not mix it into dried ingredients intended for room-temperature storage.

Whether you’re making a quick soup, slow-cooking a hearty stew, or adding flavor to rice, vegetables, and casseroles, Better Than Bouillon makes it easy—without crumbling a cube or opening a full container of broth.

Keep your favorite flavors on hand in the pantry, then refrigerate each jar after opening.

Before you go, grab my free 5 Dried Food Recipes That Actually Taste Great PDF below. It includes carrot soup, split pea soup, minestrone soup, spicy beef jerky, and banana cinnamon rolls.

5 Easy Dried Food Recipes free PDF

5 Free Dried Food Recipes
That Actually Taste Great

Put your dried food to delicious use!
Five very different recipes.
Not one dull bite...

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5 Free Dried Food Recipes
That Actually Taste Great

5 Easy Dried Food Recipes free PDF

Put your dried food to delicious use!
Five very different recipes.
Not one dull bite...

Get your free copy now!

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Save the Harvest food dehydrating game featuring jars of dried bananas, beets, mushrooms, peas, and corn.

Choose a food, make the right preparation, drying, and storage decisions—and see how many stars you can earn!

Play “Save the Harvest”